The household appliance we all own that guzzles as much power as 65 fridges running at once
With energy prices rising, managing household electricity use matters. The electric oven, useful for everyday cooking (think dishes au gratin or roasting chicken), can use a lot of energy. It can use as much power as dozens of refrigerators and push bills up. However, a few straightforward tweaks let you keep enjoying home cooking without large increases in your bill.
What your electric oven is really costing you
Electric ovens often cost more in electricity than people realise. While appliances like tumble dryers, freezers and fridges are usually named as heavy users, the oven quietly tops them in consumption. With power ratings from 2,000 to 5,000 watts, an oven used several times a week can total 40 to 90 kWh per month. A recent study of about 100 French households found ovens can use 224 kWh per year, and that figure can be higher depending on how you use it. At full power an electric oven can consume as much energy as 65 refrigerators running at the same time.
By comparison, refrigerators typically run between 300 and 800 watts because they mostly need to maintain cold; ovens must generate and hold high heat, which explains the difference. Some oven models also draw standby power even when switched off because of their digital clocks and control screens. An investigation in California reported a standby draw of 67 watts per household (standby meaning the appliance is switched off but still plugged in), which could make up as much as 26% of a household’s annual electricity use.
Save energy with smarter habits and tech
There are several easy changes that reduce waste without making cooking a chore. For example, preheating once and cooking a few dishes back-to-back uses less electricity than reheating the oven several times. Turning the oven off a few minutes before the end of cooking and letting residual heat finish the job can also cut consumption. Unplug the oven after use to stop standby leakage. And try not to open the oven door frequently — every time you do, a lot of heat escapes.
Buying newer models labelled “low-consumption” is a longer-term way to save: they include technologies designed to be more efficient while still doing the job. Alternative cooking methods — combined ovens with microwaves, steam cooking and pressure cookers — can significantly reduce electricity use and often shorten cooking times.
Practical benefits and a look back at older habits
These changes do more than shave a bit off the bill; they can make cooking more organised and intentional. People often rediscover old tips like batch-cooking several dishes at once — the kind of practice our grandparents used to do. Small choices like that can turn constraints into chances to be more efficient and comfortable.
Learning to manage oven consumption is important for household budgets and contributes to wider efforts to use energy more responsibly. As energy prices rise, being mindful about oven use is a sensible move. Adopting small organisational changes and trying different cooking modes makes it easier to move towards efficient, greener cooking habits.
These simple practices give you a way to rethink how you cook. By making small but effective adjustments, you’ll save money and reduce household energy use, while keeping the pleasure of cooking at home.